2020.01

New year, fresh start!

25 gambling fools crammed in to The Garage Around Back for the start of another year, the 12th year, at Pepper Street Poker.

Players had a few restrictions imposed right away - no walking on the lawn!  No flushing the toilet!  (Re-seeding and a sewage line problem) - but they all took it in stride and immediately threw down with ferocious action - we had 6 re-entries before the break!

The stage is set!

First, a little hardware for Mr. Jerry!

Then a new member of the Legacy Hall of Fame - can you spot the new addition?

 I'm not sure what was going on - but the chips were flying!  Both Jerry and Dog built up mountains early!

I did ok - chipped up a bit, but had to bluff every single board.  Tough way to play!

Folks enjoyed a bit of pizza and then returned after the dinner break. Just before 8pm the third table broke and the action continued...

I busted shortly thereafter, boo!  Already stuck in the new year!   But plenty of others busted as well.  The final table formed about an hour after the third table broke.

There were three Legacy players at the final table, including our latest addition - poker soul crusher Julie A.   Action at the FT was just as fast and furious as the rest of the tournament, we got down to the money quick.  Ken S., 2018 Player of the Year, was our unfortunate bubbler.

Busting in 6th place for a $60 payout was Jeff G.

One nice thing - of the final five, three were women!

Taking home $120 for 5th place, the aforementioned Legacy inductee Ms. Julie.

Finishing next in fourth place for $160 - she's now two for two in cashes at PSP - my good neighbor and fellow Burrough's parent, Leaane.

And then there were three...

I didn't see any hands, but I heard several whoops and hollers - Dog presumably was on the wrong end of a few big hands because his Mount Chipmore succumbed in third place for a $200 payout PLUS a near record 9 bounties for an additional $45!

And then we were heads-up for the title - a deal was floated - and rejected!  We played down to a winner.

Since Mike K. was the last Legacy player standing, he collected his buy in back - and then battled a bit with Priya and when the dust settled he had to settle (see what I did there) for second place and a very nice $260 payout.

And so we had our winner - a new champ for a new year!

Photo courtesy Mr. Art

Priya took down her first MTT title at PSP and locks up her seat for the Tournament of Champions next January.  She also received $340 and a brand new PSP Card protector / trophy.   Well done Champ!

Oooooo!

Our next tournament is looking like Saturday, February 15th at 5pm - save the date and stay tuned for the Evite.  It will be No-Limit Hold-Em once again - Omaha/8 will be after that in March. So happy and grateful we've started another fun year of the pokers!  Looking forward to lots more good times in The Garage Around Back.

Until then, peace and we out!

Back in the day OG - Won 3 tournaments in one year!

2019 Tournament of Champions!

A beautiful and brisk Burbank afternoon unfolded on a Saturday in the Garage Around Back, and 14 eager degenerate gamblers gathered 'round for some good old fashioned cash game action.

The chips were flying, both at the mix games table and at the No-Limit Hold-Em only table.  And before we knew it, 5 hours had come and gone, and it was time to break out a different set of chips for the Tournament of Champions.

But what a set of chips though!  Staring back at the players, was other players!  Legacy Players who have now found a permanent home on the faces of some of the chips in Pepper Streets newest tournament set!

Don't worry, if you don't see your face, there's a good chance it will show up down the road in the furture.

So all of these chips had to be bagged and tagged.  Turns out every tournament at Pepper Street is actually a two day event for the winners... with day 2 being the TOC!

Plus some hardware for the winner!

And so we were underway!

Photo Credit: Dog

Several hours passed, the sun went down - and it wasn't too late before we had lost 11 players and it was final table time!

I was having a great tournament and playing well as the bubble approached, but my QQ ran into KK and then I flopped a straight and nut flush draw along with an over that was good - all the chips went in and I bricked out and shortly thereafter was out.  

With four players left they agreed on a bubble safety and the remaining players were in the money!

Barbara was next out and got $50 for her trouble, not bad for a free roll!   And then there were three...

A hand from earlier, Dan L had Mike P on the ropes, flopping 2 pair - but the Q hit on the river.

Stuver was out next - he had attended every cash game so he got the TOC invite and managed to spin up a 30K starting stack (when the avg starting stack was 40K) to a third place finish and a $200 pay day.

And then we were heads-up!

Bracelet on the line!

This time Mike had Jason on the ropes, but the river gave Jason broadway!

The battle was a good half hour - but when the dust settled, this guy was left standing.

Mike had a tremendous year, consistently going deep, as well as taking down a tournament and narrowly missing out on Player of the Year, and this was the culmination of those great results - Congratulations my man, well deserved!

Jason was pleased enough to finish second for $300.   Mike got the bracelet and a $450 payout.

A huge thanks to everyone who came out for a fantastic poker marathon - from the cash game players to the TOC runners - it was a truly great day and I'm super grateful to have such a great bunch of poker enthusiasts who win or lose, always make it fun!

And now it's time to get going with a brand new year of the pokers!  Our first monthly of the year will be Saturday, January 25th, stay tuned for the evite!

Until then, peace and we out!